Medical Assistant Schools & Programs in Washington

Many colleges in the state of Washington offer medical assisting certificates, diplomas and associate and bachelor degree programs that help prepare graduates to pursue careers in physicians’ offices, clinics and nursing homes.

Whether you attend a vocational school, a community college, or a university, there are various medical assistant schools in Washington to choose from. As a medical assistant, you might be responsible for tasks such as drawing blood, answering phones, giving injections, filling out insurance forms, or sterilizing medical equipment. Before we get into education information for medical assistants in Washington, we thought you’d be interested to learn some general education information about the state...

Washington General Education Information and Data[vii]

There are 49 four-year institutions in Washington, compared to the national average of 56

There are 36 two-year institutions, compared to the national average of 33

The national average for total male fall enrollment is 171,951 and Washington has 170,066

The total female fall enrollment in Washington is 212,466 while the national average is 228,592

F.A.Q.'s for Medical Assistants in Washington

What are the medical assisting job and earning statistics from Washington?

There are currently 12,850 medical assistants employed in Washington. [i]

There are 17,750 projected jobs by 2022, which is a 24% increase and approximately 650 annual job openings.[ii]

The annual mean 10th percentile wage for medical assistants in Washington is $26,620.[i]

The hourly mean 10th percentile wage is $10.23.[i]

Where do medical assistants work?

Medical assistants usually work in physician's offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They perform administrative and clinical tasks that involve working with patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. Did you know Washington boasts several hospitals ranked by U.S. News and World Report? The University of Washington Medical Center is even ranked nationally in 12 specialties, including #5 for cancer.

Top 5 Regionally Ranked Hospitals in Washington:

University of Washington Medical Center

Providence St. Peter Hospital

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Evergreen Health Medical Center

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital

What salary information is available for specific metro areas of Washington?

The highest (90th%) and lowest (10th%) annual mean salary for medical assistants in each of these metro areas is as follows: [i]

Metro Area

Lowest 10th% Salary

Highest 90th% Salary

Bellingham, WA

$25,800

$43,120

Bremerton-Silverdale, WA

$25,800

$40,130

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA

$23,630

$38,200

Longview, WA

$24,170

$43,640

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA

$25,660

$42,970

Olympia, WA

$26,380

$44,680

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division

$30,130

$48,610

Spokane, WA

$25,200

$38,850

Tacoma, WA Metropolitan Division

$25,020

$45,230

Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA

$26,020

$54,290

Yakima, WA

$25,430

$42,130

What is the annual mean 10th percentile wage for other health related fields in Washington?

Medical Billing & Coding: $27,040[iii]

EMT (emergency medical technician): $27,300[iv]

Pharmacy Technician: $29,800[v]

CNA (certified nursing assistant): $21,090[vi]

How do I earn a medical assistant certification in Washington?

Making the decision to pursue your medical assisting education at a Washington vocational, two-year, or four-year school may be a great one for you. Since employers prefer to hire employees who have their certification, looking into a diploma or certificate program might be a good idea. We are here to help you by providing you with Washington schools that have medical assisting programs. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies accredits five certifications for medical assistants.

Below are a few health related fields that do require state licensure:

Dental Hygienist:[viii] Requires certification via the Board of Dental Examiners. Requirements include graduation from an American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited dental hygiene program, certification of successful completion of the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination anesthesia training, work history, and successful passing of clinical and state jurisprudence exams.

Emergency Medical Technician - EMT:[ix] Requires certification from the Washington Department of Health. Requirements include a Department of Health provider credential, an association with a licensed EMS agency and supervision of the county medical program director, an approved EMS evaluator curriculum, and successfully passing evaluator and written exams.

What medical assisting professional organizations are there in Washington?

By joining a professional medical assisting organization after graduation, you may enhance your medical assisting career. The Washington State Society of Medical Assistants is a professional organization in Washington and their website (http://wssma.org/) has information about certification, recertification, membership, benefits, contact information, forms, a calendar of events, a newsletter, and more.

Moving forward with the decision to pursue a medical assisting degree may be an exciting choice for you. Below is a list of our partner schools in the Washington area that offer medical assisting programs. Feel free to click on the links for additional information about each school. Remember that, even if certification isn’t necessary, many employers prefer hiring job candidates who are certified.